Switch-shield.



H. H. JONES.

SWITCH SHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1913.

Patented 'Jan. 6, 1914.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cc" WASHINGTON. n. c.

HENRY H. JONES, OF POTTSVILLE, ARKANSAS.

SWITCH-SHIELD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3, 131st.

Application filed January 20, 1813. Serial No. 743,226.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY H. JONES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pottsville, in the county of Pope and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-Shields, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to shields for steam or electric railway switches, which normally cover the switch point or tongue, preventing snow, dirt or the like being collected therein, whereby the same would become choked or inoperative, such, shield being automatically operated by wheels of the train or car to aid the same to pass.

An important object of this invention is to provide means of the above mentioned character, which are simple in construction, strong, durable and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a plan view of iny improved switch shield, showing the same in place upon a switch point, Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 4: designates a switch rail, provided with a main wheel flange receiving groove 5, having communication with a plurality of wheel flange receiving grooves 6 and 7, as is customary. The groove 5 is enlarged at the inner ends of the grooves 6 and 7 forming a longitudinal chamber 8, within which is mounted a horizontally swinging switch point or tongue 9, pivoted to a fixed tapered block or web 10, as shown at 11. It is obvious that as the wheels of the car or train travel from either groove 6 or 7 toward the groove 5, the switch point 9 will be automatically swung in the desired direction.

The free end of the switch point 9, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, is connected with a bolt or pin 12, operating through an opening 13 and extending outwardly therefrom to enter a housing 14, which is preferably formed integral with the switch rail 4. Disposed within the housing 14 and surrounding the bolt 13 is a suitably stiff compressible and expansible coil spring 15, held thereon by a nut 16 and a washer 17, as shown. The spring 15 serves to normally hold the switch point 9 in one position, but allowing the same to be swung to the other position, by the car wheels and automatically returning the same to the normal position when released.

The numeral 18 designates a horizontal reciprocatory shield, which normally covers the chamber 8, and switch point 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The shield 18 is provided with a longitudinally curved wheel engaging face 19, carrying a similarly curved upstanding flange 20, as shown. The shield 18 is provided at its opposite ends with lateral extensions 21 and 22, depending from which are tubular housings 23, preferably formed integral therewith, as shown in Fig. 3. Each tubular housing has its outer end open and its inner end closed by a head 24:, provided with an aperture 25, receiving a guide rod 26, which extends through and is rigidly connected with the switch rail 1, the same being relatively stationary. Mounted within each housing 23 is a compressible and eX- pansible coil spring 27, surrounding the rod 26 and held thereon by means of a nut and washer 29, as shown. It is obvious that the function of the springs 27 is to normally the chamber 8 and switch point 9.

In operation, the switch point 9 normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 1, to carry the chamber 8 and the shield 18. Upon the approach of the wheel from either groove 6 and 7 toward the groove 5, the same will engage the curved flange 20, thus pushing the shield 18 to the left at the same time swinging the switch point 9, to the left. Upon the passage of the wheel the shield and switch point are automatically shifted to the left, to assume their normal positions.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my. invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a switch rail, of a switch point pivotally connected therewith, a reciprocatory shield to normally cover the hold the shield in its inner position, to cover switch point, laterally extendingguide rods attached to the switch rail, tubular housings connected with the shield and receiving the laterally extending guide rods, and springs mounted within the tubular housing and surrounding the guide rods and serving to normally hold the shield in the inner position to cover the switch point.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a laterally swinging switch point, of a reciprocatory shield to normally cover the same and adapted to be moved out of such position by the wheel of a car or train, and means to automatically return the shield to its normal switch point covering position when removed therefrom.

3. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination with a pivoted switch point,

of a reciprocatory shield adapted to normally cover the same and having a longitudinally curved wheel engaging face, and spring means to normally hold the shield in one position and return the same thereto when removed therefrom.

4t. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination with a pivoted switch point, of a reciprocatory shield adapted to normally cover the same and having a longitudinally curved flanged wheel engaging face, and spring means to normally hold the shield in its switch point covering position and automatically return the same thereto when removed therefrom.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a switch rail provided with ail-enlarged chamber, of a switch point pivoted therein, spring means connected with the pivoted switch point to normally hold the same in one position, a reciprocatory shield sliclably engaging the switch rail to move transversely thereof, and spring means normally holding the shield in the inner position to cover the switch point.

In testimony whereof I atIiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY H. JONES.

Witnesses WV. A. Racsoams, L. A. VVALLAOE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

